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' 2 She ts-Shee.t l. H. W. WHITE, DESK AND SIJAT.

Patented Jan. 14, 1868.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

H. W. WHITE.

DESK AND SEAT.

No. 73,416. Patented Jan. 14, 1868.

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HIR-AM W. WHITE, OF OLNEY, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 73,416, dated January 14, 1868.

IMPROVED DESK AND SEAT.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, IIIRAM W. WnITi-J, of Olney, in the county of Richland, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Desk, Seat, or Table; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are made part of this specification.

The subject of this invention is a means or device for enabling desks, seats, or tables to be adjusted vertically with great facility; and one feature of the invention, as applied to school-desksand seats, enables them to be fastened to the floor by the most simple means, adapts them to be readily turned back to clear the space for sweeping or scouring the floor, and also facilitates the detachment of the furniture when it is to be removed or packed away when not in use.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a portion of school-furniture, illustrating my invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams, illustrating the adjustment of the several parts, and the relative changes in position of which they are'susceptible.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand and use the same.

In fig. 1, I have shown two desks, A A, the nearest (A) being broken away to afi ord a better view of the adjustable parts, as also to exhibit the repository, B, for books, 850. Each desk, as also the seat D, is supported upon four legs, G C, C O, and each pair of legs '0 C are pivoted together at c, said legs being adapted to cross each other at different angles when in use, as seen in fig. 2. E E are two supporting-shafts, attached respectively to the upper extremities of the legs C C, G O, by means of screws 0, or otherwise. The shaft E occupies hearings in the lower corners at the back of the desk or seat, which is free to turn thereon, in order that the front end of the desk or seat may be raised to enable the shaft E to be shifted in the notchesl, 2, 3, 4. These notches are formed in the opposite side pieces of the desk or chair, and by shifting the supporting shaft E from one to the other, the desk or chair may beadjusted vertically to any desired position, as will be readily understood by reference to fig. 3, in which the red lines represent the furniture at its lowest (1 gree of adjustment, and the blue at its highest. The number of notches, as well as their distance from each other, may be varied to suit the taste, and the connecting-shafts E E may be dispensed with, or short studs or projections substituted therefor without departing from the essential principles of the invention, but Iprefer to employ the shafts E E as a means for bracing the legs. FF are pivoted plates,.employed in connection with the respective series of notches to close the same and lock the shaft E in the appropriate notch when the desk is adjusted. Each plate F is held in its locking position by the engagement of its notch, f, fig. 3, with the headed pinor screw G. H H are blocks, which are screwed to the floor, and each pair of which receive the ends of a rod, I, which pass through the lower extremities of the legs 0 of desk A, and legs 0 of chair 1). The blocks H H and red I form a very simple means for attaching a desk and chair to the floor, and when it is desired to detach the furniture from the floor for removal, or for stowing away, it is only necessary to unscrew the blocks H H, when the desk and chair will assume the compact form represented by black outlines in fig. 2. The shaft J, with its lateral extension J, serves to eifectuallly brace the legs asunder.

The desk need not have a hinged lid, as the book-shelf or repository may be under the stationary top-piece of the desk, audit is obvious that my improved means for adjustment may be employed in connection with tables, seats, and desks different in style from those here represented. The adjustment of the desk may be effected without disturbing the adjoining chairs, and vice versa. The desk may be turned back so as to rest on the preceding chair, or the chair may be turned back against the desk to clear the space for sweeping or secure ing, or, if desired, the chair D may be lowered, and then turned back under desk A.

The above-described means of adjustment are not only applicable to school-furniture, but may be used for the desks, tables, and chairsin counting-rooms or elsewhere. In schools, one of the great advantages due to my invention is, that the desks and chairs may readily be made to suit the size and convenience of the scholars.

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular material, as wood, metal, or any other suitable material may be employed for the various parts, as experience may dictate. Instead of the notches 1, 2, 3, 4, hooks or other suitable fustcnings may be employed to hold the upper ends of the loose legs.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The folding legs 0 0', C C, in combination with the notches 1, 2, 3, 4, and locking-plates F F, or their 7 equivalents, as a'means for adjusting desks, tables, and chairs vertically, substantially as described.

2. The blocks H H and rod I, in combination with a desk, A, C C, and chair D, O C, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

To the above specification of my new and useful improvement in adjustable desks, seat, or table, I have hereunto signed my hand, this 4th day of July, A. D. 1867.

HIRAM W. WHITE.

Witnesses:

' J. C. SCOTT,

T. A. BARR. 

